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Patented'iune 14,1881.

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45 sheets-sheet 2Q (No Model.)

B; .I FROST, Cylinder Printing Press.

No. 242,914. Patented June`14,1881.

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Cylinder Printing'lress. NO. 242,914. VPatentedll.lne14,1881.

INVENTOR 1f ../n.:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. FROST, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF t TWOTHIRDS TO ROBERT N. TOPPAN, OF NEW YORK, N.` Y. f

CYLINDER PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,914, dated June 14, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. Fnosr, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cylinder PrintingPresses, of which improvements the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In these Figure l represents a side elevation of the press with one of the Msfdefframes or housings removed; Fig. 2, a side elevation of thesystem of gears by which the cylinder andtable are driven and the cylinder is raised and lowered. Fig. 3 is a top view, and Fig. 4 an end view, of the cylinder, showing the mechanism for closing and opening the grip ers. Fig. 5 is a view of the T- head which is attached to the griper-shaft. Figs. 6 and 8 are respectively plan and end views of the formrollers and their actuating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a front view of the same, partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the fountain-roller and its accessories with their actuating mechanism. Figs. 10 and 11 are side elevations of the same, seen from oppositeends of the fountain-roller.-

My improvements are specially adapted to be used in connection with that class of printing-presses known as two-revolution cylinder-presses, but I contemplate the use ofsome of them in connection with other forms of cylinder-presses.

AAarethehousings or side frames, mounted upon the bed-plateB, which also serves as a base to au interior frame, A', forming ways for the type bed or table D, which latter runs upon rolls in the usual manner.

The cylinderG is journaled in sliding boxes in the standards C', its weightbeing counterbalanced by the springs D'.

The type bed or table D is run by means of a rack upon its under side and railroad gear B', the drivin g-pulley D2 being connected with the latter by means of the gears H H and connecting-rod I, The construction of these parts is well understood and need not be further particularized.

v Upon one end of the cylinder shaft E is l mounted a gear, E, revolving freely thereon.

The inner face ofthe gear-wheel E is recessed Application filed November 10, 1880. (No modeLl so as to form a shoulder or cam, a, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring latch or pawl, e, is pivoted to a collar fixed rigidly upon the end 4of the cylinder, and engages with the can] a when the gear E revolves in one direction, thus rotating the cylinder. The reverse revolution of the gear E disengages the latch :and frees the cylinder. A rack, E2, is rigidly attached to the table D, and reciprocates therewith. This rack E2 is shown in dark shade in Figs. l and 2, and is upon the side farthest from the observer, as is also the gear E, with which Vthe rack engages.

On the end of the cylinder-shaft, outside of the gear E, is rigidly mounted a second and smaller gear, F, meshing with a large gear, l", journaled to the side frame.

On the face of the gear F is rigidly attached an irregular gear, G, a portion of .whose periphery is concentric with that of thegear F', while the remainder is constructed with a4 flattened curve, as shown. The iiattened portion is arranged to mesh with a correspondingly-elongated curve on the irregular eccentric gear g,- which also has a portion of its periphery concentric with that of the large 1gear and cam wheel H, driven by the pinion H on the shaft ,of the driving-pulley D2. The irregulanporlions of the gears G and g are of such form that their revolutions exactly coincide Awith the unequal speed of the crank andi railroad movement. During one half-revolution of the large gear-wheel H its motion is transmitted to the cylinder C by two independent'systems of gearing-viz., the rack and latched pinion and the eccentric gears G g--and during the remaining half-revolution of the cam-wheel, or while the rack is returning, the pinion runs free on the cylinder-shaft and the cylinder isdriven by the regular or circular portions of the gears G g. Thus during the period of impression the cylinder makes one complete revolution with a varying speed exactly conforming tothe movement of the type-bed, and during the returnA of the type-bed the cylinder makes a second complete revolution with a uniform speed independent of the type-bed, but completed simultaneously with the return movement thereof. The purpose of this double sysf tem will be hereinafter explained.

der.

A connecting-rod, R, is attached to the sliding box on each end ofthe cylinder, and passes through the counterbalance spring to the crank-pin of the short-armed crank a on the end ot a rock-shaft, o. The rock-shaft o extends across the bed-plate, and is provided with bearings in the bed-plate, the tWo connecting-rods R and their respective cranks being outside of the standards C'. Intermediate between the standards a longer crank, b, is attached to the rock-shaft, and a wrist-pin, c, on the. crank b fits into a slot of the connecting-bar f. By means of the cam-wheel and pin i upon the vibrating arm I', pivoted at T, the=co11neetingbar f is caused to reciprocate, thus alternately raising and depressing the cylinder. The configuration of the slot d in the cam-wheel H is such that these movements ofthe cylinder are sudden, and during the interval between them the cylinder is positively locked by reason ofthe position of the pin t' in the outer and inner arcs of the slot d. The rise and fall of the cylinder are very slight, being only sufficient to permit it to clear the type-bed on the return movement of the latter, and hence the rack E2 and pinion E are not thrown out of gear.

The connecting-rods R may 'each be made in two pieces, united'by a sleeve-nut,h, as shown, so that they may be adjusted in the direction of their length. The connecting-bury" is provided on its under side with a projection or cam,j, and a bell-crank lever, J, (see Figs. 1 and 9,) having a treadle at its. outer end, is pivoted to one of the side frames. The inner end or arm ofthe lever J, Figs. l and 9, when raised bydepressing the treadle, is struck by the camj as the 'ci)nneeting-banfreciprocates 'and lifts the slotted end of the bar, so as to vfree'the wrist-pin e` thus disconnectingl the mechanism for raising` and lowering the cylin- When the inner end or arm of the bellcrank leverJ is permitted to fall the slot'again drops-to the wrist-pin c and the rising-andfalhng movement of the cylinder is resumed.

The cylinder itself' is of the usual construction, and the details of the griper movement are shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The griperfingers o, working in the slots 7c, are attached to a shaft, Z, running` lengthwise through the cylinder and projet-,ting beyond it at one end to receive the slotted T-head U. The gripershalt is provided with bearings in the ends of the cylinder, and the gripers can be opened or Iclosed by the oscillation otA the head U, being 'held in either position by springs, as is well understood. To turn the griper-shaf't head U,

I- mount upon the end of the eylindenshaft a pinion, q, meshing with a second pinion, t, which has double the number of teeth of the 'pinion q. A cam-cylinder, u, is attached to the pinion t, and the sliding bolts K K' are pins fit the groove u' of the cam-cylinder a,

'and as the latter revolves the bolts are alternately protruded and withdrawn. The end of the protruded bolt strikes in the slot of the head U when the slot is turned toward it, but permits its passage when thtl slot of the approaching head if'. turned awa ,v from it. lVhen v cylinderC, the protruson of' each bolt only takes place once during the two revolutions of the main cylinder. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the bolt K, which closes the gripers, has just turned the head U and is leaving the slot. The opening-bolt K', having been previously withdrawn into its sheath, remains there until after the passage of the head U, and is then protruded by the cam-cylinder, so that on the return of the head U, whose slot is now turned-toward the bolt K', the head and griper-shaft will be turned back and the gripers opened. Y

The details of thcvform-rollers are shown in Figs. 6, 7, and S. These rolls are three in number, and are mountedin bearings upon the ,side frames. One of' them, w, known as the rider,7

is mounted above but in contact with the others, p p, as shown. The journal-boxes L2 of the rider w permit the longitudinal movement of its shaft, and to oney end ot' the shaft is attached the screw-nut M` whose screw N is a prolongation ot'theshaftof pinion M'. Arack, y, fixed upon the side of the type bedl or table, aetuates the pinion M' in opposite directions with each reciprocation of the table, and thus causes the rider w to move back and forth endwise, while at the same time it is rotated by the pinion N', which meshes with the pinion M. rlhe rack y is shown light in Fig. 1, and is upon the side of the table nearest the observer.

The rider-roller, when the press is in use,

needs to be frequently removed for cleansing,v

and if the screw-thread by which the reciprocating movement is effected is formed directlyv upon the roller-shaft, as has heretofore been done, it requires a careful adjustment in the screw-nut each time the rider isreplaced, since the least inaccuracy would result in tearing` out the thread. By attaching the rider-shaft to a secondary screw and nut, which always remain in positioinl obviate this difficulty, and the rider can be thrown in and outot position quickly and without adjustment.

i Motion is comm unieated to the fountain an( inking roller system, Figs. 9,10, and l1, from the main driving-shaft by means ot' the chaingearing Y Y', the gearwheel Y' being mounted upon the' driving-shaft Z of this system. L' is the fountain-roller, revolving in the ink-fountain L, which latter is constructed inthe usual manner.

A ratchet-wheel, O, is mounted uponI the shaft of the roller L', and the box 0', which turns loosely upon the shaftof the roller L',

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ICO

is provided with a pawl, .which engages with theratcheti() in one direction. WithinV the box O is the coiled spring I), arranged so as `to be wound up by the revolution of the box ver is pivoted at IIT, the rotation ofthe wheel' R' produces a slow downward movement of the curved arm and strap and a quick upward return thereof.

The mechanism by which the doctor-rollers are vibrated is shown in Figs. 9, l0, and 11, but, being of the usual construction, need not be explained in detail. l

Intermediate between the doctogrollers is the distributing-roller VV, to whichwI desire to impart a longitudinal reciprocation, while at the same time it is revolved continuously in one direction. For this purpose I mount upon the shaft of the distributing-roller (which is permitted to'play end wise in its bearings) a hanged pinion, X, meshing with gear x, whose teeth are arranged upon a projecting waved rim, which its between the iiangcs of the pinion X, and thus serves as a cam.

A pulley, Q', is mounted upon `the shaft of the distributingfroller W in such manner that the latter is permitted to play end wise therein and be rotated thereby. 'Abelt, fr', and pulley V communicate motion from the shaft Z of the chain-gear Y.

Having thus described the mechanical construction embodying my improvements, l will now proceed to explain the mode of operation thereof.

The sheet to be printed, having been seized by the griper-ngers, is brought down upon the cylinder. As the type-bed D commences its forward movementthecylinderis depressed by'means of the connecting-rods It, and the sheet is thus pressed firmly against the type. The forward movement of the type-bed continues, and the cylinder is revolved in exact uniformity with its motion by means of the rack and pinion and the latch e. The typebed then commences its return movement, and the latch e disengaging from the pinion, the latter runs free on the cylinder-shaft. The forward `movement of the cylinder, however, is continued by means of the independent sysv tem of gears F F', which has been permitted to conform to the previous irregularmovement of the cylinder by means of the irregular eccentricity of the gears g G, and the cylinder therefore makes a second revolution synchronously with the return movement of the typebed. This second revolution of the cylinder enables the sheet to be discharged in front thereof. The object of imparting `motion to the cylinder through the two independent sys tems of gearing is as follows: To produce exact uniformity of movement during the period ot' impression, it is desirable that the'cylinder should be driven directly from the type-bed; and, while it is not essential that the second revolution of the cylinder should be uniform throughout with the return movement of the type-bed, it is of the highest importance that it should be completed exactly at the same instant with such return movement; otherwise an accurate registercannot be obtained for the succeeding sheet at the commen-cement of theimpression. I therefore provide theirregular and eccentric gears, which follow the varying movement of the type-bed during the period of impression, so that the system which drives the cylinder during the second revolution shall never be out of gear. Thus the danger of lost motion which might ensue if this system had to be thrown in and out of gear is averted, and, furthermore, a similar danger which might result from the failure ofthe latch e to engage instantaneously with the shoulder a is obviated, since the eccentric gears continue to positivelyrotate the cylinder.. In light presses, where the strain upon the cylinder movement is not great, I contemplate using the train of eccentric gears alone for the purpose of driving the cylinder. As, however, it is difficult to make the irregular teeth of sufficient strength to bear the strain of driving the cylinder of a heavy press during the period of impression, and for other reasons above given, I deem it expedient in such heavy presses to provide the rack-and-pinion movement as the efficient power during that period.

The control ot the mechanism which raises and depresses the cylinder isfacilitated by the arrangement of the connecting-barf with its cam j and the bell-crank lever J, so that the engagement and disengagement with the rockshaft crank c are etl'ected close by the. cylinder, where the pressman usually stands.

The griper movement is peculiar chieflyin the particulars rendered necessary by the double revolution of the cylinder, the proportions of the pinions t and q and the configuration of the slot a in the cam-cylinder u being such as to effect the protrusion and withdrawal of the opening and closing bolts at exactly the properI moments.` Thus the closinglbolt is protruded at the moment before the gripers are to take the sheet, strikes the T-head U, and closes the gripers It is then withdrawn and remains withdrawn during the whole ofA thatrevolutiou and nearly the whole of the second revolution of the cylinder, when it is again protruded to repeat the operation. After the T-head has been closed and has been carried past the point where the opening-bolt is situated, the openingbolt is. protruded so as to strike the T-head and open the gripers after the completion ot the rst revolution ot' the cylinder, when the sheet is discharged.

It is then withdrawn and remains withdrawn until after the passage of the T-head in the next revolution, when this operation is repeated.

The end wise-reciprocating movement of the rider-roller w is intended to effect the uniform distribution of the ink upon the lower ones, and is accomplished by means of thel screwand-n ut attach ment and the reciproeati ng rack upon the type-bed.

Thedriving mechanism ofthe fountain-roller is adapted to produce a slow revolution thereof during the period when the doctor-rolleris taking up the ink therefrom, andto permit the extent of its rotation to be varied at will.

The revolution of the crank-pin S in the slotted lever-arm s, pivoted at W, occasions a slow depression of the curved lever-arm V, and thus slowly unwinds the strap P', which, by means of the ratchet and pawl 0, rotates the fountainloller, and by adjusting the keeper Q at a point of the arm V nearer to the fulcrum V the length of stroke will be diminished without changing the comparative speed. When the stroke, however, is completed and the strap P is to be rewound upon the anged box 0', it is desirable that this movement should be rapid, and thereforea quick upward return oftheleverarm V is effected by the revolution of the crankpin S at the top of the slot s.

The distribnting-roller W is rotated continuousl;r in one direction by means of the pulleys Q V and belt fr', and at the same time the cam-gearx and pinion X cause it to reciprocate end wise, thus thoroughly distributing` the ink received from and taken up by the doctor-rollers l?2 P2.

1 am aware that it is not new to use irregular gears to slow downthe cylinders of singlerevolution presses during the return of the type-bed, and that such devices have been used in connection with segments of gears to insure conformity of movement between the type-bed and cylinder duringthe period of impression; but in such cases the bed movement has been a regular one, and the irregular portions of the gears were operative, not during the period of impression, but during the return of the bed.

l am also aware that eccentric gears have been used in single-revolution cylinder-presses in combination with type-beds reciprocated by parallel-motion devices,as describedin Letters Patent No. 128,731, dated July 9, 1872. Apart from the fact that no supplemental system ot' gearing is used in this device, it differs from my further feature of improvement, in that the gears effect but a single revolution of the cylinder for each complete reciprocation of the type-bed; and also in that the cylinder used must be of double the circumference necessary in mine, and must have a portion of the periphery eut away, in order to permit the return of the type-bed.

The use of a single crank and railway gear such as is above described for the purpose of driving the type-bed has. been found highly desirable, and my improvements permit the con'ibination, with a type-bed so driven, of a cylinder driven by a system of gearing independent of the type-bed-'driving mechanism, though proceeding from the same prime mover. I also obtain by the double revolution of the cylinder the advantage of delivering the printed sheet face uppermost in front thereof, and am enabled to use a much smaller and lighter cylinder.

Furthermore, l am aware that the continuous revolution of the cylinder has been effected directly from the type-bed by means of two independent systems of gearing, alternately thrown in and out of gear, a device for this purpose having been patented to me in Letters Patent of the United States dated June 3, 1879. My present improvements differ from this last'method, in that, while they drive the cylinder during the period of impression directly from the type-bed, they maintain the secondary system constantly in gear, and thus prevent any lost motion which might impair the accuracy of the register.

Having thus described the nature and object of my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a type-bed driven at a varying speed, a cylinder driven during the period of impression directly from the typebed, and a system of irregular gears driving the cylinder continuously, but conforming during the period of impression with the irregular movement of the type-bed, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the connectingrods l oi' the cylinder, of the cranks a and b, wrist-pins c, slotted conueeting-bar-f, cam j, and bell-crank lever J, substantially as specitied.

3. The combination of the screw-nutM, screw N, pinionsMN, and racky with theshaft ofthe rider-roller, substantially as and for the purposes. specified.

4. The combination, with the strap of the IOO IIO

fountain-roller,of the slotted lcversand crankpin S, whereby a slow unwinding of said strap is etfected and a quick return thereof permitted, snbstantiall y as specified.

EDVARD J. FROST.

Witnesses J. WALTER DoUGLAss, GEO. F. FINDLAY. 

